on the webEarlier this year, the State of Michigan approved 2 Blogging courses for Real Estate Professionals.  One of the courses, Blogging Basics for Real Estate Professionals, (K1062) could not have been more timely.  My newsfeed just came across the most recent article from Inman News by Glen Roberts entitled 'The Long Arm of the Law Reaches Bloggers.'

According to Roberts, millions of dollars have been awarded to plantiffs who have filed cases against bloggers; one of the most famous being the lawsuit against this Miami agent.

It's not just about defamation and slander or even copyright infringement.  An issue which many real estate bloggers continue to ignore is the compliance of their blogs with the real estate laws which govern the practise of the profession in their state. 

For instance in Michigan, if you are a real estate agent, you can't PRETEND to be a member of the public when you advertise or write about real estate related issues ANYWHERE...your blog included!

As a broker, it seems to me that there are also significant errors and omissions issues that will be addressed in the future for us if we are not proactive in providing training and over sight for our agents. 

There is undeniable power in this medium.  To name a few advantages...

Incredible Exposure for Listings

Opportunity to be the 'first' connect with potential clients

Ability to Share information about the Local Market

Ability to Demonstrate Expertise about the Local Market & Real Estate Issues

Cost Effective Means of Advertising

24/7 Promotion

The List could go on & on...

But, it is not without risk & wise brokers and their agents would do well to acquire the knowledge and training to ensure their blogs make them money rather than cost them profits.

Copyright 2008  Audu Real Estate  All Rights Reserved

 

Lola Audu, CRS, GRI e-Pro ~ Audu Real Estate

Lola Audu, is the Designated Broker & Owner of Audu Real Estate.  Our company specializes in helping people buy and sell homes in the greater Grand Rapids, West Michigan area. You can contact us via e-mail @ info@auduhomes.com or by phone at 616-791-0511. Thanks for visiting our blog.  Here are links to some of our most popular posts for you to enjoy!

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37 Comments on How To Avoid Costly Blogging Adventures...

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

JUN
17
2008
563,876 Points 17 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

We have no local course yet, however, I am on the education commitee of my board and will be bringing that up in this month's meeting. Thanks for sharing, Lola

6:40am • #18
874,720 Points 154 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Lola, is having your real estate information in the ABOUT ME tab,good enough ? I don't have it on the front page but it is there and obvious I am a REaltor.

7:10am • #19
569,437 Points 1 Featured Post Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Great advice Lola in our business we need to be aware of our obligations and take them seriously.

8:54am • #20
592,224 Points 22 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

I don't know why anyone would think they wouldn't eventually get caught, if they're breaking the law or violating the Code. Actually, I don't know why they would want to. What real estate buyer or seller would want to do business with a dishonest agent, except a dishonest buyer or seller?

6:42pm • #21
1,361,045 Points 244 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Lola, blogging is playing a larger role in the way business is done, so people better learn how to use it and do it correctly.

7:23pm • #22
1 Featured Post

Lola, I may be all wet here but I also think many bloggers violate their MLS rules without really thinking about it.  A blog is after all a website and at least for my MLS there are very specific rules regarding listings that are aquired by feeds or that are posted via services like Postlets. We really need to consider all the rules, not just those dealing with slander, etc. Thanks for a great post.

9:03pm • #23
JUN
18
2008
683,419 Points 83 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Lola~

I've bookmarked this and dropped BOB a note to let him know I think it should be Featured. Good points for all AR -folk to consider...and stated in your own savvy way =)

12:12pm • #24
306,008 Points 14 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

This is a hot topic lately.  HUD is already reading blogs here and elsewhere. 

I interviewed a HUD spokesman last fall and he confirmed their compliance staff members are spending an increasing amount of time on the Web.

12:23pm • #25
367,616 Points 145 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Sally, you're right in noting that we should know what's right and wrong.  But the issues at stake here are a little more complicated.  Many agents don't have the training of professional journalist & yet we are making or interpreting what amounts to news.  Unfortunately, many agents have not read and clearly understood their own code of ethics either.  So, it's not just right and wrong, but also ignorance...

3:24pm • #26
367,616 Points 145 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Yvette, we would all do well to follow this case and learn from the experience.  As citizens, we do have the right to free speech, but we cannot defame, slander, misquote or in any other way portray things as other than what they are as real estate agents. 

3:28pm • #27
367,616 Points 145 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Jeff, that's the challenge.  The spectrum of what agents need to be aware of has broadend tremendously.  During one of the discussions in the class,  Gwyn Besner who has written several courses approved for Continuing Education in the State of Michigan remarked about the changes that she would consider making to a future course as a result of some of the issues that we brought up. 

3:32pm • #29
367,616 Points 145 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Kathleen, I think Michigan is the first state to offer this as Continuing Education, but I'm sure others will follow.  It is really needed and relevant to the current business climate.

3:34pm • #30
367,616 Points 145 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Gita, Thanks for your comment

Kris, Thanks for stopping by.  Hopefully, we will be able to offer more of this COMBO in the future.

Mike...Great!

3:38pm • #31
JUN
23
2008
6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

wow..i think it would be great if this type of class were available in pa....i dont think alot of us think about the laws when bloggin..good post and good eye opener

10:16am • #32

lola,

I didn't realize Michigan had a class on blogging.  I'll have to look it up thanks for sharing

7:03pm • #33
290,126 Points 33 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Lola- It's a good thing you share your expertise with the rest of us.  I am sure I am in compliance....obviously I cannot guarantee it, but I think so :) 

10:10pm • #34

I had never really thought about blogging from this standpoint.  Thanks so much for the education.

10:24pm • #35
JUN
24
2008
105,006 Points 6 Featured Posts

Lola........I have to say that I agree with you in the fact that we need to be carefull.

 

I don't believe that many of us have the idea yet of the far reaching power of these blogs, or of the permanance of them. I can't believe how many people have read my views from Active Rain, and how often I run into more of them in person.

 

A few years back, I finished a run of 7 years of doing a weekly radio show that reached a small local AM audience. To this day I get feedback from shows that I barely remember, but that made an impact on a person(s) that day. They still remember. Our blogging here has the power to go much further than that.

WIth any such power comes responcibility. Going to 5 blogging classes won't stop a lawsuit for someone who publically pushes an agenda on a blog such as this. Active Rain gets out to Potentially Millions in a Day. If the powers that be could do it, maybe when we sign our blogs to be submitted, there could be one more little box that we would check....

______I acknowlege that this statement that I have just writted will be viewed by potentially millions of people for the next 20 years....I am sure I feel good about putting this out into the very public domain.

3:09am • #36

Excellent information, and a prudent alert that we are always in business, and that "everything" is always "there", on the Internet.     Thanks!

Li

Li Read, RE/MAX Salt Spring, B.C., Canada

liread33@gmail.com

Li Read, RE/MAX Salt Spring, B.C., Canada
4:20pm • #37

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Lola Audu~Real Estate Broker/Owner Grand Rapids, Michigan Real Estate

Grand Rapids, MI

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Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate

Address: 3659 Alpine NW, Suite 102, Grand Rapids, MI, 49321

Office Phone: (616) 791-0511

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